Union delegates are expected to approve a merger between the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) on Thursday. Both unions have been aggressive when it comes to organizing new members which is critical at a time when labor's share of the workforce has dropped to 12.9 percent. New targets of organizing efforts will be industrial laundries, the apparel industry, and the casino industry.
See "Unions seek strength in merger", Stephen Franklin, Chicago Tribune, July 6, 2004